He had been holding her with one arm, but now he directly had Nan Zhiyun straddle his lap, his arms wrapped around her, giving her a sense of complete security.
“See? Isn't that light enough? You could be thrown out with any slight movement,” Yu Jingchen said to her.
“But…” Yu Jingchen furrowed his brow, his expression grave, and Nan Zhiyun, following his lead, began to feel nervous.
“But what?” Nan Zhiyun couldn’t help but ask.
“But I see you usually just eat and sleep, and sleep and eat. How do you not gain any weight? Hmm?” Yu Jingchen feigned a deep thought.
Nan Zhiyun: “……”
The atmosphere here was currently quite harmonious, but the situation elsewhere was not so pleasant. With the uproar today, the harem was also in disarray, with most falling ill. The Imperial Medical Office was undeniably swamped.
Cian Palace
The Empress Dowager was not her usual self today. Without her makeup, her hair unbound, and clad in simple, elegant white, she looked stark.
“Aren’t you going to rest?” Gu Yin emerged from behind her.
“I can’t sleep,” the Empress Dowager said without much elaboration, her gaze distant.
“Were you… frightened by that scene today?” Gu Yin sat down beside the Empress Dowager.
“You know what I’ve been through. This kind of scene isn’t enough to faze me,” the Empress Dowager lowered her head.
Hearing her words, Gu Yin was silent for a moment, then a pleasant smile touched his lips. “Why dwell on the past?” He reached out a hand, perhaps intending to take hers.
But thinking of something, he ultimately hesitated and did not place his hand on hers.
“With you… are things concluded?” Gu Yin asked, hesitant.
“Almost, just a little more. This is just a small step; there’s still a long way to go,” the Empress Dowager replied. Gu Yin smiled, then chuckled. The Empress Dowager looked at him.
“You’re always afraid of not having enough time, but have you ever considered that as long as you have time, you’ll pour all of it into these matters, and they’ll never end?” Gu Yin looked at her, his expression earnest. He rarely spoke to the Empress Dowager with such a look and tone.
“Are you worrying too much? You’ve already made many moves, and almost every piece you’ve placed is now in its intended position. In the later stages of the game, they will all serve their purpose. But… Nan Yin, why can’t you let go?” Gu Yin called her by her name.
The Empress Dowager remained silent. Perhaps Gu Yin didn't want to continue like this, so he gathered his courage and pulled the Empress Dowager to her feet. She did not pull away from his hand.
“Nan Yin, can you let go? Nothing will happen. The outcome of this game is already set. Even if there are any changes, I can help you set them right. So… can you reserve some time for yourself, for me…” Gu Yin was essentially confessing.
The Empress Dowager gazed at him, but only for a second or two before she averted her eyes and pushed Gu Yin away.
“Gu Yin, you know, I…” the Empress Dowager was interrupted by Gu Yin before she could finish.
“I don’t know, Nan Yin, I don’t know. I don’t know why you’re so persistent, why you’re unwilling to let go, all because of a ridiculous past life?! But I said, I’m here, and I’ll help you.” Gu Yin rarely became this emotional.